Manufacturing Apprentice

Summary

Learning all aspects of the paper making process to become a fully competent manufacturing operative at the end of the 3-year apprenticeship.

Wage

£24,192 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)

Hours

Lancaster: 8.00am - 4.30pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

To assist the production department, resources, and systems to ensure the company maintains a high-quality product, always in line with company policies, regulatory standards, and statutory guidelines/deadlines.

Where you’ll work

Lansil Way
Caton Road
Lancaster
LA1 3PQ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

HCF CATCH LIMITED

Your training course

Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Review instructions or information to understand the task.
Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures.
Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Check equipment.
Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation.
Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds.
Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics.
Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing.
Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge.
Manage waste streams.
Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP).
Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations.
Store tools and equipment.
Identify equipment for handover.
Apply signage and access restriction measures.
Shut down the process and equipment.
Isolate process and systems.
Complete isolation checks.
Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure.
Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test.
Complete post maintenance equipment checks.
Line-up equipment.
Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing.
De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems.
Complete pre-start up checks.
Start-up plant and equipment.
Re-start process.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data.
Interpret drawings and graphs.
Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement.
Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements.
Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply team working principles.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities.
Review instructions or information to understand the task.
Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures.
Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Check equipment.
Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation.
Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds.
Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics.
Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing.
Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge.
Manage waste streams.
Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP).
Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations.
Store tools and equipment.
Identify equipment for handover.
Apply signage and access restriction measures.
Shut down the process and equipment.
Isolate process and systems.
Complete isolation checks.
Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure.
Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test.
Complete post maintenance equipment checks.
Line-up equipment.
Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing.
De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems.
Complete pre-start up checks.
Start-up plant and equipment.
Re-start process.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data.
Interpret drawings and graphs.
Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement.
Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements.
Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply team working principles.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities.

Your training plan

The apprenticeship follows a 3-year programme and is delivered through a blended approach of face-to-face blocks of training at CATCH in Stallingborough and online learning sessions throughout each year.
The remainder of the apprenticeship is completed onsite with the employer.
Lancaster - Lansil Way, Caton Road, Lancaster, LA1 3PQ.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English Language and/or Literature (grade Level 4)
Maths (grade Level 4)
Science (grade Level 4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Analytical skills
Team working
Initiative

About this company

Northwood is a cohesive network of associated companies dedicated to the manufacturing, supply and transportation of high-quality paper hygiene and wiping products. We serve a diverse range of clients, offering solutions for both the away-from-home sector as well as the consumer market.

https://www.northwood.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Company pension. Life assurance. Free company products. Free on site parking. Food, retail, holidays, cinema and gym discounts. Early access to pay scheme. Employee referral scheme.

After this apprenticeship

Successful completion of the apprenticeship could lead to a higher-level apprenticeship or full-time employment for the right candidate.
You will have developed a variety of interchangeable skills and have an in depth understanding of manufacturing and processes.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HCF CATCH LIMITED

Ellie Ryal

ellie.ryal@catchuk.org

01469 552835

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000311500.

Apply now

Closes in 28 days (Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 11:59pm)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

Cookies on Find an apprenticeship

Contents